State health officials are now reporting 27 deaths due to flu-related illness in Indiana.

The overwhelming majority of the deaths, 24, have occurred in individuals older than 65 years.

By comparison, Indiana had no flu-related deaths during the 2011/12 season and three deaths in the 2010/11 flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now reporting that flu-deaths have reached epidemic levels, which simply means the nation is experiencing a higher number of flu-related deaths than was expected.